Racism is much more complex than many like to admit. Its not simply a case of having xenophobic thoughts. So many people here on OLO like to provide simplistic and virtuous examples of their interactions with this or that race (sometimes these examples are obviously ficticious) - that apparenty proves they are not racist.

Being racially oppressed means the absence of life choices - being racist is choosing to be deliberatly blind to why these these absences exist, historically or in the momment

Sadly, the only way to reduce Australian racism is to reduce the number of non-whites coming to Australia. But, that won't happen because businesses need lots of new citizens to buy their crap.

Dear Forrest,

Thank you for your kind words. I also tried to find a website
for you regarding Kevin Gilbert's poem. However I
was unsuccessful, so I dug up my anthology - and here
it is:

" The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword"
by Kevin Gilbert.

" The pen is mightier than the sword
but only when
it sows the seeds of thought
in minds of men
to kindle love and grow
through the burnt page
destroyed by huns and vandals in their rage

The sword in russet hues lies mouldering
its sharp and shiny edge now dulled by peace
and blood-lust sated between customers
like some old time worn harried whore
well past her prime
awaiting some brute hand to wield her hate

The bugler sounds, the drummer sounds his beat
bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet
gay ribands, uniforms and epaulets
entrap the eye, the soul till madness sway
them to the dance of death the piper plays

The pens in great tragedienne lines extol
the meritorious lie, the grand excuse
justification for this carnivore
called man who can't evolve in his estate
clothed and fed, his universities
and halls of learning yet avail him nought
the jungle beasts enact the same stage plays
one kind, one king, one death the same
differing nought for death wears the same cloak
regardless of technology or sport."

Gilbert shows not only his poetic intensity, but also
that he has an ear for different rhythms and registers
of language. Especially effective is his use of old-
poeticisms such as - 'gay ribands,' 'nought,'
'epaulets,' 'carnage,' and so on. It gives the poem
greater vividness and adds to the atmosphere of the
'old world' theme of plumes, pens, and swords as given
in the title.

As I stated earlier - it was a revelation to me to discover
this poet. I should add that he's also written
love poems and children's poetry. However,
I read somewhere that publishers don't want his
love or children's poetry because it seems to be commercially
more profitable to publish a militant Aboriginal writer.

Country girl,
"Not all farm employers are racist"..... Just most of them, hey?

"During the harvest season I only take Koreans because I have found there will be squabbles, sometimes started by the Koreans if I take Irish, German or French backpackers at the same time"; if this isn't discrimination, stereotyping and racism, I don't know what is!

"I observed that these squabbles were territorial, rather than directly racial"; what's the difference?

"By my example I believe I am showing others that they have nothing to fear from one particular racial group"; it's not the racial group we need to fear, it's the common human element!

Overall, a charmingly innocent vignette from the bush. Stick to milking the cows, country girl.

my search reveals some discussion on the meaning behind some of the words
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5HcDutppfe0C&pg=PA344&lpg=PA344&dq=gilbert+burnt+page+vandals+in+their+rage&source=bl&ots=iBg451Fj_o&sig=Bh5njv8KmqKAtMw7R7iqaWuUKbA&hl=en&ei=g6_VStizDYvo6gOelajAAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=gilbert%20burnt%20page%20vandals%20in%20their%20rage&f=false

as to what i have done...supported ellie gilbert and the other embassy widows..at the tent embassy canberra..even got speared with kevins memorial spear...racism is fear...

just that...scratch the surface ...racists are scared shirtless...or as swartzneigger would say..sissy frightend/-girlly girls...

and all of us..have/got a feminin side

we fear that we dont know

and govt feeds of divide and conquer
media loves focusing on negatives and platitudes
when its not doing fluff pieces and sport star reportage

none of us is perfect
racism is impossable...only..if were empowered in fearlessness

"The bugler sounds, the drummer sounds his beat
bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet
gay ribands, uniforms and epaulets
entrap the eye, the soul[should there have been a semi-colon here?] till madness sway
them to the dance of death the piper plays"

Here is some music; images,

the like of which his words evoke.

Look at the FACES of these blokes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zak_P6O2Rbc&feature=related

More, to show where led the pen

When held in Munich, caught by von Epp's men.

Another YouTube old film clip, around about three minutes in

"bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkajXeVLpk4&feature=related

How did Gilbert KNOW? OUR swords stay upright on the go!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Foxy. Have a great big acronym of the sort that exhorts the intellectually challenged to retain simplicity. Sorry about the OT post Country girl. Sorry, sorry, sorry, but left there's plenty electronic space. I now must race. Pots to stir, tweets to twitter: I know it sounds a bit frenetic; I must now do some things Helvetic.